Press Release

03/18/2008 1:16 PM ET

Major League Baseball returns to Puerto Rico this June

Tickets on sale Saturday, March 20, for New York Mets vs. Florida Marlins series

MLBPA/MLB News Release

The Florida Marlins will host the New York Mets in three Major League Baseball games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico June 28 - 30, MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) announced today. The three-game set in Puerto Rico will be part of the 2010 MLB Championship Season and will be home games for the Florida Marlins.

Individual and group ticket sales for the three games series go on sale this Saturday, March 20th at 10AM ET through MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, and Ticketpop (ticketpop.com or 787-294-0001). Individual tickets range in price from $13.00 to $100.00. MB Sports will serve as the promoter for the games, continuing a relationship with Major League Baseball in Puerto Rico that has included hosting regular season games as well as special events like the World Baseball Classic.

MLB SAN JUAN SERIES 2010

June 28, 7:05 p.m. EDT, New York Mets at Florida Marlins
June 29, 7:05 p.m., New York Mets at Florida Marlins
June 30, 7:05 p.m., New York Mets at Florida Marlins

Major League Baseball Goodwill Ambassador Vera Clemente will attend the games celebrating her native Puerto Rico and promoting the importance of courage and character, the values displayed by her late husband, Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. Vera Clemente was named Major League Baseball's Goodwill Ambassador in 2009 for her work with youth in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries.

"Major League Baseball is thrilled to bring regular season games back to Puerto Rico," said Paul Archey, Senior Vice President, International Business Operations, Major League Baseball. "The growth of baseball around the globe has been tremendous and we hope that by providing Major League competition to the passionate fans in Puerto Rico and around the world, we will encourage interest and participation well into the future."

"Play in Puerto Rico is always exciting. Fans there are among the most enthusiastic in the world," said Gene Orza, Chief Operating Officer, Major League Baseball Players Association. "The Association is pleased to participate in putting on these games, and I'm sure the players will be received with the same appreciation and hospitality that the people of Puerto Rico always have shown them in the past."

"The celebration of this series between the Marlins and the Mets in Puerto Rico brings the Puerto Rican fans the opportunity to transmit their passion for baseball to the new generations," said Vera Clemente, MLB Goodwill Ambassador.

"Hosting games in Puerto Rico is a natural fit for us as we prepare to move into our new ballpark in 2012 in Miami, the Gateway to the Americas," said David Samson, President, Florida Marlins. "We are excited to return to Puerto Rico to bring Marlins baseball to our fans there."

"The Mets are delighted to return to Puerto Rico and partner with MLB, the Players Association and the Marlins in bringing professional baseball to fans around the world," said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President, Business Operations, New York Mets. "We have players on our roster from seven countries with five hailing from Puerto Rico, and we're looking forward to the electricity that will fill the stadium when they step on to the field."

"We are happy to once again host Major League Baseball in San Juan," said Ana Muñoz, Vice-President, MB Sports. "We know these games are going to be exciting for local fans and for the fans that will visit the island in June."

Both the Marlins and Mets franchises have international playing experience. Each Club traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico when Hiram Bithorn Stadium became the part-time home of the Montreal Expos in 2003 and 2004.

The New York Mets participated in the first-ever MLB regular season games held internationally, having played the San Diego Padres in Monterrey, Mexico in 1996. The Mets also have the distinction of playing in the first season opener in Japan in Major League history when they played the Chicago Cubs in 2000 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. This was the first time in Major League history that a regular season game was played outside of North America.

Hiram Bithorn Stadium hosted MLB's Opening Day game in 2001 when the Toronto Blue Jays faced off against the Texas Rangers. The stadium was used as one of the venues for Round One and Round Two of the 2006 World Baseball Classic as well as a Round One venue for the 2009 tournament. Additionally, a number of Major League teams have used Hiram Bithorn Stadium for spring training games.